Seconds

“The good you do today, will often be forgotten by tomorrow: Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough: Give your best anyway.  You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” – St. Teresa of Calcutta.

Beautiful message. One for my treasury box of inspiring thoughts. For me it simply means: do only what can please God and do it now as if there’s no more tomorrow.

I know of one good deed that some people may find hard to do: to forget and give second chances.

I know that some people may not deserve the second chance. However, giving someone a second chance doesn’t mean that what they did is eliminated and you can forget what happened. The pain may remain, but to give that person a second chance will do good not only to the other but also to yourself.

It is self-healing and an opportunity for self-growth. From the situation, you learned your life’s lessons as well and so this time around, you are more discerning. This time you know how to set appropriate boundaries, refine relationship or communication skills, and heightening your trust in yourself.

For the other person, you gave them the opportunity to change. Along the way, the person may slide back. But you are not accountable to their actions. At least you did already what Jesus would have done — forgive.

Didn’t He forgive Peter even as the latter denied Him three times? Peter didn’t apologize for his action, nor did he ask for another chance as far as we know. But instead of letting Peter to wallow in guilt, He reached out to Peter. Jesus approached Peter with love.

And why? Simply because He hadn’t lost strength to trust and love even towards Peter.

It’s the same kind of unconditional love when uttered His first set of words while up on the cross. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” His executioners had hurt Him, yet Jesus chose to forgive.

As a little girl, I would hide behind the door and wait till my father arrives. One day, He just stopped coming home. So I told myself that if one day I should see him, I’d never give him a second chance to be with our family again. I was sad and upset. And these feelings I carried with me until I got married.

After years and years rolled by, he just shows up — sick, old and repentant. It took me another set of years to forgive him. I continued to feel tired, sad and upset. One day, it just happened. I cried before his sick body and told him I have forgiven him and asked for his forgiveness for my stubbornness too.

By then, he was immobile and had a hard time speaking. Alzheimer’s disease had caught up with him, so never mind if he probably doesn’t remember me at all and may even be wondering what I was blabbering about. I just forgave him. I realized after that I felt more freer and happier.

Only God’s grace can enable us to forgive and give second chances. So, when you feel it’s just too hard to forgive, kneel down and ask God to help you. Ask for the grace of humility and the gift of love. For without God’s help and love, second chances will not be an option.

Remember also why it’s also called second chance.

In a clock, every second ticks by, but no matter how quick it is, it’s still an essential part of timekeeping. Something can still happen in that second.

Therefore, a second chance is life changing to another person. Something good can just happen in that quick moment you forgave him or her.

As seconds lead to a minute and then to an hour, forgiveness leads to second chances and then to a renewal of spirit. The second chance is your new beginning to make a difference in yourself and your life.

When we come face to face with God someday, we can say we did one good turn. We forgave. Never mind if others don’t approve or if we may get betrayed again by the person we already forgave. It’s not about them but who we are to God.

Back to what St. Teresa said, “You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”